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Postpartum depression (PPD) affects some women after childbirth,
eventually interfering with her ability to take care of the baby and
handle daily tasks.
There are no specific therapies. Existing options include standard
antidepressants and psychotherapy.
Data on 21 patients showed that the company's drug, SAGE-547,
achieved a statistically significant reduction in symptoms at 60
hours, compared to a placebo, on a standard depression scale used in
clinical research.
Patients experience a whirlwind of emotions including severe
anxiety, panic attacks, thoughts of harming her-self or the baby and
feelings of worthlessness, shame, guilt or inadequacy.
Up to one in seven women experience PPD, according to the American
Psychological Association.
The company's shares were up 39 percent at $47 in premarket trading
on Tuesday. The stock had fallen 42 percent through Monday's close
this year.
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"This is potentially one of the most important clinical findings in the
pharmacologic treatment of postpartum depression to date," said the trial's
investigator Samantha Meltzer-Brody.
(Reporting by Natalie Grover in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza)
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